U.S. patent number 8,561,685 [Application Number 13/451,330] was granted by the patent office on 2013-10-22 for mobile hydraulic workover rig.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Rodgers Technology, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Troy A. Rodgers. Invention is credited to Troy A. Rodgers.
United States Patent |
8,561,685 |
Rodgers |
October 22, 2013 |
Mobile hydraulic workover rig
Abstract
A hydraulic workover rig including a base structure, a derrick
extending from the base structure, a hydraulic lift cylinder
connected to the upper end of the derrick, a lower slip assembly
connected to the base structure, an upper slip assembly, and at
least two snub cylinders connected to the base and the upper slip
assembly. A distal end of a piston rod of the lift cylinder is
connectable to a pipe string extendable through the upper and lower
slip assemblies such that both a lifting force and a snubbing force
may be applied simultaneously to the pipe string.
Inventors: |
Rodgers; Troy A. (Tomball,
TX) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Rodgers; Troy A. |
Tomball |
TX |
US |
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Assignee: |
Rodgers Technology, LLC
(Chickasha, OK)
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Family
ID: |
41255820 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/451,330 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20130020067 A1 |
Jan 24, 2013 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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12370393 |
Feb 12, 2009 |
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61126011 |
Apr 30, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
166/77.53;
166/77.4; 166/85.1; 166/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B
19/00 (20130101); E21B 15/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
19/18 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;166/77.53,77.4,77.52,378,379,380,85.1 ;414/22.51 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report and Written Opinion
(PCT/US2009/042381); Dec. 20, 2010. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Hutchins; Cathleen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dunlap Codding, P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/370,393, filed Feb. 12, 2009 now abandoned, which claims
priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/126,011, filed
Apr. 30, 2008, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hydraulic workover rig, comprising: a base structure; a
derrick extending from the base structure and having an upper end;
a single hydraulic lift cylinder including a cylinder and a piston
rod, the cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, and the rod
having a proximal end and a distal end, the lower end of the
cylinder being fixed to the upper end of the derrick and the rod
extending from the lower end of the cylinder and being operable
between a retracted condition and an extended condition; a lower
slip assembly connected to the base structure, the lower slip
assembly being operable between a pipe engaging condition and a
pipe release condition; at least two snub cylinders, each snub
cylinder including a cylinder and a rod, the cylinder having an
upper end and a lower end, and the rod having a proximal end and a
distal end, the rod extending from the lower end of the cylinder
and being operable between a retracted condition and an extended
condition, the cylinders of the snub cylinders connected to the
derrick in a diametrically opposing relationship to one another;
and an upper slip assembly connected to the distal end of the rods,
the upper slip assembly being operable between a pipe engaging
condition and a pipe release condition, wherein the distal end of
the piston rod of the lift cylinder is connectable to a pipe string
extendable through the upper and lower slip assemblies such that
both a lifting force and a snubbing force may be applied
simultaneously to the pipe string; wherein the piston rod of the
lift cylinder is axially aligned with the pipe string when the
piston rod is connected to the pipe string.
2. The hydraulic workover rig of claim 1, wherein the lift cylinder
and the snub cylinders each has a stroke length, and wherein the
stroke length of the lift cylinder is greater than the stroke
length of the snub cylinders.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The following relates to workover and drilling rigs, and more
particularly relates to a novel and improved method and apparatus
adaptable for use in the servicing and treatment of oil or gas
wells.
An important consideration in the design and construction of
workover rigs in the servicing and treatment of wells is the
ability to move efficiently between wells which are located a short
distance from one another, such as, for example, wells in a cluster
or in one or more rows in directional drilling operations.
In the past, workover rigs have been so constructed and arranged
that the derrick and its substructure must be disassembled to move
between each well. It has also been proposed to utilize skids
without disassembling the structure but has required some
disassembly of the derrick and is undesirable from a number of
standpoints including but not limited to the time and cost of
installation each time that the rig has to be moved; and in the
past such installation has involved the utilization of cables or
guidewires anchored in the ground to stabilize the derrick.
Accordingly, there is a need for a portable workover rig which does
not require cables or guidewires to support or anchor the derrick
and to provide for a derrick and substructure which is completely
hydraulic and can be advanced on skids between wellheads without
pivoting or disassembling the derrick or other parts of the rig and
can be utilized on land as well as off-shore. Further, it is
desirable to construct the derrick in such a way as to facilitate
mechanical side-loading and unloading of pipe from and to raised
pipe rack sections at the base of the derrick without necessity of
threading or loading manually upward and downward through the base
of the derrick.
SUMMARY
It is therefore an object to provide for a novel and improved rig
which is conformable for use in servicing wells which are located
on land or offshore in a reliable and efficient manner.
Another object is to provide for a novel and improved portable
workover rig which is completely fluid-actuated, is extremely
stable and does not require the use of guidewires or cables to
anchor to the ground.
A further object is to provide for a novel and improved workover
rig which includes a hollow base structure containing the necessary
pumps and reservoirs for hydraulic actuation while at the same time
greatly stabilizing the entire structure; and further wherein the
entire rig including the derrick and base structure can be advanced
between wells without disassembly of any of the rig structure.
Still another object and feature is to provide for a novel and
improved derrick which is mounted on a hollow base structure and
facilitates assembly and disassembly of the pipe sections to be
lowered into or lifted out of the well with a minimum of labor and
equipment required.
The above and other advantages and features will become more
readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the
following detailed description of different embodiments when take
together with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of workover rig;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top section of the derrick;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the middle section of the
derrick;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base section of the
derrick;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the guideways and base support
containers on opposite sides of a series of wellheads;
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the base support structure shown
in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view in more detail of one of the guideways with the
hydraulically activated pusher for advancing the base structure
along a guideway;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the base support structure for the
rig;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pair of the
guideways on one side of the base support structure;
FIG. 10 is an end view of one of the corner supports used for
advancing the base structure along the guideways;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the entire work floor mounted on
the base structure;
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the base of the derrick at one end
of the derrick slide plate on the work floor;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the work floor in relation to the
base structure;
FIG. 14 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary view of the
catwalk;
FIG. 15 is a top plan view in detail of one of the grating
spacers;
FIG. 16 a plan view in detail of another one of the grating support
spacers;
FIG. 17 is a top plan view of one of the pipe rack sections;
FIG. 18 is an end view of the pipe rack section shown in FIG.
17;
FIG. 19 is a side view of one of the pipe racks shown in FIG. 17
and illustrating a lift bracket for lifting each of the pipe
sections along with a lift stop support;
FIG. 20 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the main lift
cylinder;
FIG. 21 is a schematic view of the control panel and valves;
FIG. 22 is another schematic view of the pressure gauges associated
with the hydraulic control system;
FIG. 23 is a schematic view of an auxiliary control panel;
FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the pressure gauges associated with
the auxiliary control panel;
FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic view of the gearbox and hydraulic pumps
for operation of the hydraulic components; and
FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an offshore workover rig.
FIG. 27 is an elevational view of a portion of the workover rig of
FIG. 26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT
In a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 25, a workover rig 10
is broadly comprised of a derrick 12 mounted on a work floor 13
above a base structure made up of one or more housings 14 adapted
to be mounted on elongated skids or guideways 16. The guideways 16
are arranged in pairs to flank one or more rows of wellheads
represented at W in FIGS. 1 and 5. As a setting for the embodiment
shown, the wellheads W may be for gas wells in which directional
drilling has enabled the wellheads W to be spaced very short
distances apart, such as, on the order of 3 to 6 feet.
Fluid-actuated, double-acting cylinders 62 are mounted behind the
base structure housings 14 on each pair of skids 16 for the purpose
of advancing the rig 10 along the row or rows of wellheads W.
Standard snub cylinders, illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27 and
designated by the reference letter S', are also positioned on the
work floor 13 and hydraulically controlled through a main control
panel to be hereinafter described.
As best shown in FIG. 12, the derrick 12 supports a main lift
cylinder 20 mounted over a center bore 21 at one end of a work
floor or platform 13, and lateral adjustment cylinders 81 are
engageable with a slidable derrick plate 24 to accurately align the
main lift cylinder 20 on the derrick 12 over the well to be
serviced or completed.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the derrick 12 is comprised of a top
section 28 shown in FIG. 2, a middle section 30 shown in FIG. 3,
and a bottom or base section 32 shown in FIG. 4. As best seen from
FIG. 1, the sections 28, 30 and 32 are permanently fastened
together in end-to-end relation and each is comprised of generally
U-shaped gusset plates 34 in vertically spaced relation to one
another and joined at opposite edges to vertical tubes 36 having
ladders defined by metal rungs 35 therebetween and inner spaced
vertical tubes 37 on inner side edges of the plates 34. The top
section 28 includes a solid top plate 38 with a notch 40 for
mounting of the upper end of the lift cylinder 20. The intermediate
or middle section 30 is made up of three gusset plates 34 mounted
at spaced intervals between the square tubing 36 and 37, and the
base section 32 has upper and lower spaced gusset plates 42 and 44
with center openings 46 for extension of a piston rod 27 at the
lower end of the lift cylinder 20. When the sections 28, 30 and 32
are joined together, the U-shaped gusset plates 34 are so aligned
as to form an open or recessed front along one side of the
substantial length of the derrick so that the lift cylinder 20 is
accessible for side-loading and stringing standard pipe sections P
together that are to be lowered into the well or subsequently
raised or lifted from the well in a manner to be described. The
base plate 44 of the derrick is mounted on the derrick slide plate
24, as shown in FIG. 13, to enable lateral adjustment of the
derrick 12 by means of the cylinders 22 as earlier described.
FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate the work floor 13 in more detail and its
mounting on the base housing containers 14. The derrick slide plate
24 with a center bore 45, which is shown in exploded form in FIG.
12, is mounted on main crossbeams 46 which are joined together at
opposite ends by I-beams 47. The derrick slide plate 24 is slidable
along the crossbeams 46 on a low-friction insert plate 25 and of a
type similar to that to be described with respect to the skid
mount. A generally rectangular catwalk 48 is mounted on the
crossbeams 46 as shown and traverses the entire width of the work
floor 13 in overlying relation to the base housing members 14.
Grating spacer 50 is interposed between the catwalk 48 and pipe
rack sections 51 and 52, and the sections 51 and 52 are joined
together by another grating spacer 54 to support the pipe sections
P which are stacked on the sections 51 and 52.
FIG. 13 illustrates the catwalk 48 and grating spacer assembly
mounted on the base structure as represented by the rectangular
housing members 14. In addition to the crossbeams 46 referred to
earlier, upper beams 49 extend along the entire length of the base
structure and securely anchor the upper work floor 13 hereinabove
described to the housing members 14. In the embodiment herein
shown, the housing members 14 are made up of large shipping
containers on the order of 8 feet wide by 20 feet long. As shown in
FIGS. 5 to 10, the shipping containers 14 are of elongated,
rectangular configuration and each pair is mounted in end-to-end
relation to one another with a grade bolt 50 between adjoining ends
of the beams 49 to interconnect each pair of containers 14 into
flush, aligned relation to one another. The skids 16 are firmly
anchored in the ground in spaced parallel relation to one another
and each pair of skids 16 extends beneath the inboard and outboard
undersurfaces of the containers 14, as best seen from FIG. 8.
Further, each pair of skids 16 is rigidly interconnected by
crosstube members 17 at spaced intervals along the entire length of
the skids 16.
In order to advance the housing members or containers 14 along the
skids 16, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, low-friction slide members
58 each include an upper guide plate or rod 59 inserted into a
recess 60 in the undersurface of the front and rear corner of each
of the housing members 14 so that the entire weight of the housing
members 14 is applied through the low friction slide members 58 to
the skids 16. Low-friction plastic insert plates 61, as best seen
from FIG. 10, are positioned between each low friction slide member
and skid to enable the entire rig to slide easily along the
guideways or skids 16 with a minimum of friction. A double-acting
cylinder 62 includes a piston rod 63 bearing against a stop 64
which is adjustably positioned on the skid by an adjustment bolt
66, and the opposite end of the cylinder 62 is affixed to a pusher
66 in direct proximity to and behind one of the low friction slide
members 58. The stops 64 are inserted into one of a series of
adjustment openings 65 along the length of each skid 16 and spaced
apart a distance corresponding to the maximum length of extension
of the cylinder. When fluid under pressure is applied in a
direction causing extension of the cylinder 62 away from the stop
64, the housing members 14 will be advanced a distance
corresponding to the axial movement of the cylinder 62, bearing in
mind that the four cylinders 62 will be activated in unison behind
the housing members to advance them along the skids 16. Also, the
housing members 14 will be advanced incrementally by successively
advancing and retracting the cylinders 62 and moving the stops 64
and 66 to the next adjustment opening 65.
FIGS. 14 to 19 are detailed views of the catwalk 48 and grating
spacers 50 and 54, the grating spacers 50 extending between the
catwalk 48 and a pipe rack section 51. The catwalk, as illustrated
in FIG. 14, is comprised of grating 145 supported on gusset I-beams
146 between rails 148 extending length-wise on opposite sides of
the catwalk, and the catwalk 48 is positioned between the
crossbeams 46 and the first grating spacer 50. There are three
grating spacers 54 in end-to-end relation to one another between
the pipe rack sections 51 and 52. The grating support spacers 50
and 54 are correspondingly made up of two-inch square tubing
support members 156 underlying a grate 158 and joined to angle
irons 159 at the four corners of the grate 158.
The pipe rack sections 51 and 52 shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 overly
portions of the catwalk 48 and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, extend
along both sides of the derrick 12 so that the pipe sections P may
extend lengthwise of the catwalks. Both sections correspondingly
include a rectangular grating 161 which is reinforced by I-beams
172 and square tubes 173 across the undersurface of the grating 161
as illustrated. Also, a flat plate 174 is mounted on the grating
171, as best seen from FIG. 18; and FIG. 19 illustrates the pipe
lift slot 75 on the lift bracket 76 which is pivotally mounted on
the plate 74 on each pipe rack and controlled by a double-acting
cylinder 78 to lift and lower each length of pipe. One of the
I-beams 72 is centered between opposite sides of each pipe rack
section, and a lift stop support 80 extends upwardly from the plate
74 to limit downward movement of the lift bracket 76.
The derrick 12 is mounted at one end of the work floor 13 on the
derrick slide plate 24 with the generally U-shaped open front side
of the derrick 12 facing the pipe racks 51 and 52, and the cylinder
20 is aligned vertically with respect to the center bore 21 over
the wellhead W. Although FIG. 12 illustrates the base 44 of the
derrick in exploded form, it is centered on the derrick slide plate
24 and has its center opening 45 aligned directly over the center
bore 21. In this way, the derrick 12 will follow the shifting of
the derrick slide plate 24 in aligning the center bore 21 over the
wellhead W to be serviced. Specifically, the derrick slide plate 24
is mounted on low-friction plates 25 and is advanced by the lateral
adjustment cylinders 81 in spaced parallel relation to one another
on the work floor, the end of the cylinders 81 being anchored by a
pair of bolts 82 through a spaced pair of openings in each cylinder
81 which are aligned with two matching openings 84 in the derrick
slide plate 24. Additional openings 86 are provided in the derrick
slide plate 24 for mounting the base plate 44 of the derrick 12 by
suitable fasteners, not shown. Piston rods 88 at the opposite ends
of the cylinders 81 are anchored by bolts 89 to base plates 90 so
that the cylinders 81 are free to advance and retract the derrick
slide plate 24 and the base plate 44 in a lateral direction across
the end of the work floor 13. Removable stops 91 are insertable
into openings 92 which are at staggered intervals from the side
edge of the work floor 13 to shift the path of movement of the
derrick slide plate 24 and the base plate 44 with respect to the
work floor 13 and the ground in vertically aligning the center
bores 21 and 45 over each wellhead W in succession.
There is shown for the purpose of illustration but not limitation
in FIGS. 20 to 25 a hydraulic control circuit for operation of the
rig and its accessories beginning with one form of lift cylinder in
FIG. 20 and continuing with the various controls and control panels
in FIGS. 21 to 25 forming part of the hydraulic control circuit. In
FIG. 1, the lift cylinder 20 is shown to have its lower end mounted
on the top plate 38 of the derrick 12 with the piston rod 27
extending downwardly through the notch 40 in the top plate 38 of
the derrick 12. The cylinder 20 is double-acting with flow lines 93
and 94 extending between a lower directional control box 95 via
lower ports 96 and upper ports 97 into the upper end of the
cylinder. The lower end of the piston rod 27 is notched at 98 for
suspension of a standard, hydraulically-actuated elevator 99, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 21 schematically illustrates a flow
control valve 101 for the lift cylinder 20, the valve 102 for a
standard rotary table control mounted over of the derrick slide
plate 24 and the base plate 44, and pressure relief valves 104 for
the lift cylinder 20, rotary table, snub cylinders S' and the
conventional upper slips 140 (FIG. 27) and lower slips 141 on the
work basket. A four-bank control represented at 105 operates the
slips 140 and 141 and pusher cylinders 62 on the derrick 12. FIG.
22 merely illustrates the various pressure gauges on the panel as
designated at 106 for the lift cylinder 20, snub cylinders S',
slips and rotary table. In addition, a pump gauge 107 is provided
for the pump from the reservoir and a weight gauge 108 is provided
for sensing the weight of the pipe string.
FIG. 23 is another schematic of an auxiliary control panel 110 for
use by a second operator and includes a three-bank control 112 for
the winch and pipe rack bracket 76. Another set of controls is
provided at 114 for the blow-out preventers in the system, and
pressure relief valves are represented at 116 for the blow-out
preventers. FIG. 24 also represents the various pressure gauges 118
for the pipe rack pressure gauge, blow-out preventer pressure
gauge, tong pressure gauge and Hydril pressure gauge.
FIG. 25 illustrates the engine, gear box and hydraulic pumps
including a dual stage pump 120 to operate the main lift cylinder
20, a three-stage pump 122 for the blow-out preventers, catwalk and
tongs, another dual stage pump 124 for the elevators 99, rotary
drive table and lift cylinder 20, and a dual stage pump 126 for the
snub cylinders S' and lift cylinder 20. A flywheel and shaft 128
are mounted on the gear box 130 of the engine 132. The engine, for
example, may be a Detroit 8V92 575 horsepower (Detroit Diesel,
Detroit, Mich.), and utilizes a three-stage commercial gear pump
with three relief valves. The gear box may be a Durst PH 9 (Durst,
Shopiere, Wis.). In addition, although not shown, a series of
Denison vane pumps (Parker Hannifin HPD, Marysville, Ohio) are
provided off of the engine together with 3000 psi relief valves.
Another feature of the invention is that the complete engine power
pack may be stored in one of the containers 14, the pumps housed in
another container 14, the reservoir or tank in one of the
containers 14, and the remaining container 14 being utilized as a
tool house. In this way, the various engine, pump, and control
components will contribute to the weight necessary to stabilize the
entire rig and establish a low center of gravity to more than
counterbalance the weight of the derrick 12, pipe sections P and
lift cylinder 20.
In operation, the pipe sections P are stacked on top of the pipe
racks 51 and 52 with their ends in facing relation to the derrick
12. Each pipe section P is raised either manually or with the
assistance of the pipe bracket 76 in order to wrap the winch cable,
not shown, around the end of the pipe and advance the pipe over to
the work basket where it is lined up beneath the elevators 99 on
the lift cylinder 20. At this point, the end of each pipe section P
is engaged by the elevators 99 and lifted until the pipe P is
vertically aligned with the center of the well.
The snub cylinders S' are used only in situations where there is
some pressure in the hole, but normally the lift cylinder 20 is
used throughout the entire process in lifting and lowering each
pipe section into and from the well. The three-stage pump 122 is
controlled by the bank of controls on the control panel, one of the
pumps having one side that controls the snub cylinder S' when
necessary. All three pumps can be activated together as needed to
supply the necessary fluid under pressure to the main lift cylinder
20 via the flow control valves 101-103 and the control box 95. One
of the pumps is also connected to the rotary drive table. It should
be noted that the open or U-shaped front of the derrick 12 enables
automated lifting of each pipe section by the cylinder 20 through
an angular path of movement from the pipe racks up to the top of
the derrick 12 until the pipe section becomes aligned with the
wellhead. As the pipe section is then lowered by the lift cylinder
20 it will be engaged by the upper slips 140 (FIG. 27) and
threadedly connected to the next lower pipe section in the well.
The upper and lower slips 140 and 141 are of standard construction
and, for example, may be Cavins slip bowls (Cavins, Singal Hill,
CA). At this point, it will be apparent that standard procedure can
be followed in successively lowering each pipe section into the
well with the aid of the upper and lower slips 140 and 141.
Similarly, in lifting each pipe sections from the well, standard
procedure may be followed with the use of the slips 140 and 141 but
with the additional assistance of the elevator 99 on the lift
cylinder 20 for engagement with the upper end of each pipe section
and lifting to the height necessary to offload onto the pipe
racks.
After each well workover operation is completed, the pusher
cylinders are activated to advance the rig along the guideways 16
until the center bore 21 is alongside or aligned with the next
wellhead to be serviced. The hydraulic control circuit for the
pusher cylinders is represented in FIG. 7 and includes a two-bank
control 132 in order to simultaneously activate the cylinders 62
behind the containers 14. The cylinders 62 are push-pull cylinders
to advance the entire base structure in either direction along the
guideways. A pair of handle controls, not shown, may be mounted on
the end of one of the containers 14 to control the flow of fluid
from one of the pumps referred to in FIG. 25 to activate the
cylinders 62 as referred to earlier. If necessary, the derrick
slide plate 24 is activated to adjust the derrick 12 laterally into
alignment over the well to be serviced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SECOND EMBODIMENT
An offshore drilling 10' is illustrated in FIG. 26 wherein like
parts are correspondingly enumerated with prime numerals. Again,
the rig 10' is made up of a derrick 12' mounted on base housing
members or containers, not shown, which can be affixed or mounted
on the standard offshore drilling platform, not shown, and
therefore can utilize the existing positioning controls on the
drilling platform to advance the derrick into position for the
workover operation. The work floor 13' has the same components
including the catwalk, grating spacers, and pipe racks as described
in the first embodiment.
It is therefore to be understood that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details
of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made within the principles of
the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general
meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed and
reasonable equivalents thereof while preferred forms of the
invention are herein set forth and described, the above and other
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and
reasonable equivalents thereof.
* * * * *